Meow, meow

The moment I saw this ribbon, I knew I had to pair it with my cats. I don't use these stamps near enough, but sure had fun with them in these.

Stamps: Meow, Rudy Cat (top), Frazzled Cat (bottom) (Stamps By Judith)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Going Gray (Stampin' Up)
Paper: White (Xerox cardstock); Yellow (DCWV); Patterned paper (Provo Craft)
Accessories: Colored pencils, blender pen, scallop and circle punches (Marvy), black marker (dots on scalloped circle)

Everything Old Is New Again – Using Mythology in Romance

Everything Old Is New Again – Using Mythology in Romance
May 16, 17, and 18 at Romance Divas

Want to know how to use mythology, culture, fairy tales, or folklore in romance? Romance Divas is hosting a 3-day workshop with some of the hottest names in the genre. It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To gain access to the forum you will need to register, which is free.

The workshop will feature the following writers:
P.C. Cast
Robin D. Owens
Gena Showalter
Nancy Madore
Lori Handeland
Alyssa Day

Mourning Dove Eggs

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. I hope you have a fantastic day!

Since I've been posting Mother's Day cards over the past few weeks, I'm sure many have wondered what the card for my own mom looks like. This is it. I stamped the small flower from Baroque Motifs in versamark ink on burgandy cardstock for the background, and the greeting is from Fancy Flexible Phrases (both from Stampin' Up). The image was found online and printed on white cardstock, matted to burgandy and then red. Patterned papers are a Dollar Store find, with faux stitching along the edges of the darker pattern. Accessories include a Marvy square scallop punch and the SU word window punch.

Market Daffodils

Bouquets of fresh daffodils for sale at the Saturday
Farmer's Market on the Capitol Square.

Myanmar aid shipments confiscated

I don't usually get all political on this blog, but headlines like this really piss you off:

UN halts aid to Myanmar after junta seizes supplies

Myanmar's junta seized U.N. aid shipments headed for hungry and homeless survivors of last week's devastating cyclone, prompting the world body to suspend further help on Friday.

The U.N. said the aid included 38 tons of high-energy biscuits and arrived in Myanmar on Friday on two flights from Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.

"All of the food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated," U.N. World Food Program spokesman Paul Risley said. "For the time being, we have no choice but to end further efforts to bring critical needed food aid into Myanmar at this time."

Since the original story was posted a little over an hour ago, Myanmar's government has acknowledged taking control of the shipments, but claims plans to distribute the aid "without delay by its own labor to the affected areas." Since the cyclone that devasted the area a week ago, relief organizations from around the world have stepped forward to offer aid, only to be turned away at the door. Meanwhile, hundreds more have died due to injury, with thousands more expected to succumb to disease, exposure to the elements, and starvation. If they truly want to save their people, the junta needs to get over their fears of the outside world and let the aid workers in. Trained doctors and health officials can do a hell of a lot more for the country than a militia trained to kill first and ask questions later.

The confiscation of matierlas raises a lot of questions, such as how we know people in the areas worst affected will get the aid they need. What is preventing the junta from killing the sick and injured instead of attending to their needs? How much food is being left to spoil at docks and airports because the junta won't let it off ships or planes? What other reasons could there be for refusing to let humanitarian organizers into affected areas? What is the junta trying to hide? And what will be left of Myanmar if they continue to refuse help from countries much more capable of providing the sort of aid needed in the face of such devastation?

What really ticks you off is the knowledge that these people begging for help are being led to believe that the rest of the world has abandoned them when, in fact, it is their own government that has failed them. It is incidents such as this that really make you angry!

Summer Haiku

Kristen at Romance Divas challenged the Divas to write an ode to summer in haiku form. Here is my entry, inspired by the lawn service that woke me up early this morning. Click here to read more entries.



Neighbor mowing grass
Allergy sufferers sneeze
Pass the Kleenex please!

Thursday Thirteen #58: Things I Haven't Done

Saw this done somewhere sometime ago, but no idea where I got it: thirteen things I haven't done in quite a while.

1. Played my violin. Fixing the broken E string would probably help.

2. Gone on vacation – almost seven years since I could afford a real getaway. An overnight visit to my sister doesn't count. I want to go somewhere, dammit! Crossing an ocean to get there would be a bonus, but I'd settle for traversing any major river.

3. Gone Swimming – particularly sad considering the pool is right next to my building, but it’s always over-flowing with screaming brats whose parents do not watch them.

4. Gone camping. The tent has languished in my basement storage locker for far too long.

5. Seen a movie in the theater. Last ones seen were Harry Potter 5, Pirates 3, and The Bourne Ultimatum, all last summer. It’s not that there haven’t been movies I want to see, I just never seem to get to them.

6. Been to a concert. It’s been about seven years since I last saw anyone in concert, and that was Billy Joel and Elton John (so at least it was a good one!). TV concerts and Concerts on the Square do not count.

7. Gone to the county fair. It’s only a few miles from me, but still… It’s not like I can go on half the rides since the neck injury a decade ago. I’d rather not snap my neck in two, ya know?

8. Flown anywhere. Last place I flew to was Toronto five years ago (business, not pleasure). Can’t say it was a memorable trip, aside from the guy sitting behind and to my right with the deep, French accent. Oh la la!

9. Soaked in a bath. It’s usually showers here, and well...modern tubs just aren't made for soaking.

10. Seen my baby sister (going on seven years). We live in different states and neither of us is really able to travel right now.

11. Seen any of my cousins. There are some cousins I haven’t seen in ten years, others I haven’t seen in at least 25, and still others I've never met (at least that I can remember).

12. Attended Homecoming events at alma mater, or seen any of my sorority sisters. Sure, many of us are still in touch via phone, letter and email, but we haven’t seen each other face to face in ages.

13. Moved. After more than 15 years in the same place, I have to move at the end of July. Which means three months to find a new apartment and pack. While a change of view and new paint/carpet will be nice, I do not look forward to packing. I have a lot of books, an extensive media collection, and tons of craft supplies. Sadly, I may have to sell or donate a few boxes of books. *Cringe whimper whine*


Links to other Thursday Thirteens:

Alice Audrey * Adelle Laudan * Morgan St John
Kathleen Oxley * Shelley Munro * December
Debora Dennis * Jennifer McKenzie * Debbie Mumford
Tempest Knight * Paige Tyler * Gina Ardito
Ms Menozzi * Nina Pierce * Savvyone * Darla

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Wonderful Mother's Day Card

Another Mother's Day card, this one employing one of my new SU! stamp sets.

Stamps: Live your Dream (SU); Mother's Day greeting (Darcie's)
Ink: Perfect Plum (SU)
Paper: White, Pale Plum, Lavender, Enchante' patterened paper
Accessories: Oval punches (Marvy)

And Dances With the Daffodils

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
~Wordsworth

Here tulips bloom

Here tulips bloom as they are told;
Unkempt about those hedges blows
An English unoffocial rose.
~Rupert Brooke

Tulips

Tulips are finally blooming -- can spring really be here??

Thursday Thirteen #57: Pet Peeves

I'm taking this directly from a thread at Romance Divas this week, Nitpicking Things That Drive You Nuts. Here are some of the things that bug me.

-- People who don't push chairs in, or who leave doors/drawers/box flaps hanging open, especially when they block narrow aisles.

-- People who blast their car stereos, especially those who sit in front of someone else's house and do this.

-- People who block store aisles. Pull your cart over to the side to look for the item you can't find, or to chat with friends. And don't give me a dirty look when I ask you to move your a$$ so I can get through.

-- People who don't pick up after their dogs. You put food into it, you clean what comes out of it. It's as simple as that.

-- People who are too lazy to take their garbage with them. I don't throw my garbage in your yard, don't throw yours in mine!

-- People who keep dialing the same number after being told they are dialing the wrong number, as if the connections will magically rearrange if they just. keep. trying. I actually had to leave an outgoing message on my machine for two months last year telling people the number they were dialing was NOT ABC company, and screen all incoming calls. They finally got the message.

-- On a similar note, people who argue with you when you tell them they've misdialed. One lady who called my home number actually accused me of being lazy and not wanting to help her. It was soooo tempting to "make an appointment" for her so she would look the fool when she showed up somewhere she wasn't expected.

-- People who leave long rambling phone messages and then suddenly hit warp speed when leaving their phone number. Sorry, but if I can't understand the number, I'm not calling you back.

-- People who do laundry after 10pm or before 6am. That may be fine if you own a house, but when you share walls with other people...uh-uh. Have a little consideration for the people around you, and they might have some for you.

-- And, as someone who does a lot of walking, drivers who refuse to stop for pedestrians at/in crosswalks, despite the fact that it's state law. This especially irks me at the mall, when I'm standing directly under the bright neon sign reminding them of said law.

-- People who continually forward emails that have already been forwarded a billion times. I won't even open them. If it's really so great that you have to share, then copy, paste and clean it up before passing it on.

-- People who hold loud cellphone conversations in public, particularly on the bus/train, or in restaurants. Newsflash: you do not live in a sound proof bubble, and no one wants to hear all the intimate details of your life. Except maybe the stalker sitting behind you.

-- People who don't control their children in public. It's a store or restaurant, NOT a gymnasium. Please do not inflict the children you refuse to discipline on the rest of us.

So...what's bugging you?

Links to other Thursday Thirteens:

Kaige * Adelle Laudan * Nina Pierce
Tempest Knight * Shelley Munro * Alice Audrey
Tara Nichols * Ms Menozzi * Darla
Debora Dennis * December * Debbie Mumford
Jennifer McKenzie * Paige Tyler * Lia Morgan
Gina Ardito * Robin Rotham
Gwen Mitchell * Brenda Davis * Chloe Devlin
Dana Belfry * Kat Oxley

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Choo-choo

A simple masculine card for today.

Stamp: Train (Rubber Stampede)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU); Old World (DCWV)
Extra: Brown grosgrain ribbon

RAK from Judith

I found this cute card over the weekend while searching for some pics from a few years ago and thought I'd scan it in to share. The fence and cats are 3-D. I've no idea what she used for the cats, but they're soft and fuzzy, and leaves were used for the trees.

Happy Birthday Manda

A birthday card for a friend celebrating today, made using some leftover bits and pieces from other card projects. I'm trying to use up some of the scraps and images already stamped up.

Friday Book Promo: Aislinn Kerry

Psyche, by Aislinn Kerry
Available April 22nd from Loose ID

After months of text messaging, Psyche has fallen in love with a man she's never even met, so when she finally gets the chance to see him face-to-face, she leaps at it. However, their meeting doesn't turn out quite the way she expected. E hides in the dark and refuses to let her turn on the lights. Psyche's startled at first, but willing to overlook a few idiosyncrasies while they get to know each other in person. Their relationship flourishes--until the night Psyche's curiosity gets the better of her.

Light reveals that E is Eros, the Greek god of love and desire, and he is furious that she broke her word. She begs for forgiveness, but he won't give it. In breaking her word, she broke his trust. She must seek help from a goddess and brave the dangers of the underworld in order to prove herself and win back the man she loves.

Read an excerpt!



***

All that Glitters, by Aislinn Kerry
Available April 22nd from Samhain Publishing

Kynan Pritchard has come to Paris to start a new life, one free from the gruesome nightmares--and the accusations of insanity--that have plagued him from childhood. He's used to a hard-luck existence, but when a stranger comes to his aid, he thinks maybe that luck is changing. Aneirin is strong and brave, everything that Kynan wants to be. And Kynan falls for him. Hard.

But Kynan's nightmares are about to become reality, and not even Aneirin can protect him from the monster who's stalked him across the continent. The gwrach-y-rhibyn threatens everything--Kynan's life, his sanity, even his love for Aneirin.

To defeat her, Kynan will have to risk becoming the very creature he hates.

Read an excerpt!

Thursday Thirteen #56: Severe Weather Facts

It's Severe Weather Awareness Week here in Wisconsin, so here are a few facts about severe storms, and tips for dealing with them.

1. Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms and can strike 10 miles from the storm, even where the sky is clear. Lightning strikes the Earth 20 million times each year, and there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress at any given time on Earth.

2. Lightning causes an average of 80 fatalities and 300 injuries each year. Tornadoes cause 70 fatalities and 1,500 injuries nationwide.

3. The energy from one lightning flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than three months. Imagine what that amount of voltage can do to your electronics. This is why you should unplug appliances and stay off the phone during a severe thunderstorm.

4. A WATCH means that conditions are right for a severe thunderstorm or tornado to develop; a WARNING means that lightning or a funnel has been spotted, or that Doppler radar indicates a cell likely to produce severe storms.

5. Closing blinds or curtains when a watch is issued can minimize shattered glass from flying debris in the event that a severe storm does develop. Stay away from glass-enclosed areas during a tornado warning, or places such as auditoriums or warehouses with wide-span roofs.

6. When a tornado warning is issued, you should immediately go to a basement, or to an interior room away from outside walls on the lowest level, such as a closet or bathroom. Keep a flashlight and battery-powered radio handy for such emergencies.

7. Most deaths during tornadoes occur in cars and mobile homes—abandon them immediately and seek shelter in a secure building. Avoid overpasses or ditches if possible as they provide little protection against a twister.

8. If there is nowhere else to go during a tornado, lie flat in a ditch or depression away from buildings, and cover your head to protect it from falling debris.

9. Unlike tornadoes, if caught outside during a severe thunderstorm you should squat and protect your head; do not lie flat as that will make you a larger target. If you are on water, get to land immediately as water is a natural conduit. If you are in the woods, seek shelter under shorter trees as lightning is more likely to strike taller ones. Low-lying areas away from water, trees, and metal are safest.

10. Tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, but are found most frequently in the United States, with more than 1000 reported annually. Canada is a distant second with 100 tornadoes annually. Wisconsin has an average 25 tornadoes a year. There were 17 in 2007, 13 in 2006 and 62 in 2005. One of the scariest events was the tornado outbreak of Aug 18, 2005, when 27 confirmed tornadoes swept across Southern Wisconsin in one evening. I blogged about that here.

11. Tornadoes can produce winds in excess of 250 mph. They can be more than a mile wide and stay on the ground for more than 50 miles. Most twisters occur between 3 and 9 p.m., but can happen at any time and, though they can move in any direction, generally move southwest to northeast.

12. Contrary to popular belief, areas near lakes, rivers and mountains are just as likely to experience tornadoes as flat, open spaces. Waterspouts are tornadoes which form over warm water.

13. Signs of a Tornado: Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base; whirling dust or debris on the ground close to cloud base; hail or heavy rain followed by a dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift; loud, continuous roar or rumble.


Links to other Thursday Thirteens:

Nina Pierce * Kaige * Adelle Laudan
Tempest Knight * RG Alexander * Shelley Munro
Alice Audrey * Jennifer McKenzie * Darla
Ms Menozzi * December * Debora Dennis
Robin Rotham * Jenna Bayley-Burke * Morgan St John
Gina Ardito * Imogen Howson * Debbie Mumford
AJ Chase * Paige Tyler * Dana Belfry
Chloe Devlin * Leigh Ellwood * Savannah Chase

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

A Few More Mother's Day Cards

A few more Perennial Mother's Day Cards. See previous post for card details.

RAK from Virginia

I received this card weekend before this last from Virginia, along with the latest SU! catalog. Isn't it purty?